Odisha AM/NS India Kho Kho High Performance Centre Celebrates Two Years of Sporting Excellence

The Odisha AM/NS India Kho Kho High Performance Centre (Odisha AM/NS KHPC) in Puri recently marked its second anniversary with a landmark celebration. The event featured the felicitation of standout athletes who excelled on national and international stages, alongside the induction of a new batch of promising athletes selected through the Kho Kho Selection Trials 2026, underscoring the centre’s ongoing role in nurturing India’s future sports champions.

Collaboration and Institutional Impact:
Established as a collaborative initiative between ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) and the Government of Odisha, the centre focuses on grooming elite Kho Kho talent while developing professional judges for the sport. Over its two-year operational span, centre athletes have participated in more than 30 national, regional, and state competitions including the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, National Games 2025, Khelo India Youth Games 2025, and various National Championships—securing a total of 48 medals across multiple categories.

Dignitaries and Selection Trials 2026:
The anniversary ceremony was graced by prominent figures, including Special Guest Shri Pratik Waikar, Captain of the Indian Men’s Kho Kho Team. Guests of Honour included Shri Pradyumna Mishra (Vice President, Kho Kho Federation of India & Secretary, Odisha Kho Kho Association), Dr. Debabrata Dash (Head – HR (East), AM/NS India), Dr. Vikas Yadvendu (Head – CSR, AM/NS India), and Shri Sagar Samal (Project Head, Sports for All).

During the induction event following the 2026 trials:

31 athletes from Junior and Senior categories successfully retained their places.

19 new athletes (10 boys and 9 girls) were welcomed into the facility.

The fresh Sub-Junior intake and Junior-level advancements highlighted the facility’s structured, continuous talent pipeline.

Felicitation and Exhibition Match:
In addition to honoring athletes for championship victories, the centre recognized all-round performance, exemplary discipline, consistent academic excellence, and valuable field contributions. The celebration concluded with a high-energy exhibition match where athletes showcased the speed, agility, tactical brilliance, and competitive spirit characteristic of modern Kho Kho as the facility steps into its third year of operation.